SJA runner earns fifth at state

Andres Delgado's fifth-place finish in the boys division highlighted St. Joseph Academy's participation in the TAPPS state cross country meet Saturday in Waco.

Delgado, a senior, covered the 5-kilometer course in 17 minutes, 27 seconds.

"We're real proud of Andres' finish," SJA coach Meme Garza said. "He was right up there with the top runners.

"We finished pretty much where we expected," added Garza of the Bloodhounds' eight-place team showing. "We were in the middle of the pack. The kids ran to their abilities, and that's all you can ask."

Austin St. Michael's boys won the meet with 28 points.

The SJA girls came in 11th and were led by freshman Balbina Hernandez, who came in 42nd in 14:23 over a 2-mile course.

"I thought we might do better today since we finished sixth last year, but we didn't," Garza said. "The conditions were ideal, so I really don't know what happened."

Dallas Ursuline won the girls title with 48 points. 

Besides Delgado, other runners for the SJA boys at state were Miguel Garcia, Ernesto Martinez, Adrian Gonzalez, Luca Hernandez and Luis Valenica.

Other members of the SJA girls squad are Katrina Lambert, Marissa Shinsky, Andre Owen, Andrea Ordonez, Sabrina Reyes and Amanda Hernandez.